Laura and I first connected through something neither of us ever wanted to have in common — losing a parent to distracted driving. Her dad was killed by a distracted driver a few years before my mom. Out of heartbreak, activism was born. And somewhere in that shared mission to end distracted driving, a friendship took place. 

We’ve never met in person (we hope to change that one day!), but that hasn’t stopped us from showing up for each other. There have been several late-night chats… the kind where you remind each other to keep going, to breathe, to believe that something meaningful can rise from heartbreak and loss. 

In 2016, Laura discovered her father’s unfinished bucket list. Fifty-four dreams he never got to complete. Instead of letting it gather dust, she made a beautiful decision: she would finish it for him. 

Over the next six years, Laura stepped into courage again and again — skydiving, speaking with a U.S. president, corresponding with the Pope, and much more. What could have remained a symbol of grief became a roadmap to healing. 

That journey became her book, My Father’s List: How Living My Dad’s Dreams Set Me Free, written by Laura Carney. It’s an honest, powerful story about love, resilience, unexpected joy, and the freedom that can come from honoring someone you’ve lost. 

When the book launched in the summer of 2023, Laura embarked on a whirlwind book tour — sharing her father’s story, her story, and the larger message that life is fragile and meant to be fully lived. 

I’m inspired by what she’s built from her loss. If you’re looking for a story that will move you, challenge you, and maybe even nudge you toward your own brave step forward, I encourage you to explore her work. 

Learn more at My Father’s List and By Laura Carney. And keep an eye on what she does next. Knowing Laura, it will be meaningful.